-----------------------------------

“Yes, we’ve confirmed your assignment on our end. Security personnel will be teleported to your location to take care of Naomi.” Mayor Wattson’s tone has a certain business-like quality that makes me feel like this is just another Tuesday.

“Alright,” Well, maybe I don’t have to do this solo? “Is there any assistance you can provide?”

He half shrugs on the center video call, “We’re in the process of mobilizing local ace trainers and rangers. Flannery would have been your primary back up at Mt. Chimney… Historically, NOPE has always called on exactly who was needed, and no more.”

More of that blind faith my girl hates, “To be honest Mayor, I don’t know how I'm going to do this by myself without leaving a body or two if the situation is as bad as it sounds. It’s nice on shows when the bad guys just conveniently get knocked out, reality isn’t as… clean.”

Wattson Senior steps into the camera, “Kurt, the mythics only call on who they think will get the best result. Meaning they have a sense for you better than us or even you in this case. They also won’t cry over human casualties.”

“I wouldn’t put it so callously.”

The Mayor shakes his head, “Sugar coating it doesn’t change that this is looking messy, and far too suspicious. Kurt, NOPE might not care but the League will have a much harder time supporting you if we have to clean up a trail of corpses.”

No shit, “What about isolation.”

Senior’s brow quirks, “What do you have in mind?”

“The Alola Tower event,” Another messy day, “That guy in the space station was able to ruin a lot of Team Ultra’s goals from off in space!”

A lovely brunette woman rolls on her chair in the background, “He’s asking for a Network Ace.” She looks at me through the call, “We have agents with Porygon, Rotom, and Magneton teams.”

Naomi’s dad nods but scowls, “They would still need to be on site for the best effect. Which means they need to teleport in based on your GPS beacon, which would likely be blocked or intercepted if it’s a fully functioning lab as we suspect.”

“Right so, step one, find the place. Two, get in, quietly. Three, knock out the com room long enough to teleport in your back up.” Senior looks to speak up but I cut him off.

“Four, Keep moving. As soon as the cable is cut they’re going to notice. I’ll have to find either the pokemon NOPE wants rescued or the jerks in charge before they can escape, preferably both. Any grunts that manage to abandon ship will hopefully be picked up by rangers around the mountain.”

The older Wattson shakes his head, “Rescue the pokemon before bothering with any admins. Fastest backup you can get on site is whatever is already there waiting for you. The more options at your disposal, the lower the body count.”

Sighing, “Alright gentlemen, and Miss Hollie, seems that's all for planning. Maybe hand your Network guy an extra first aid kit just in case, other than that…”

“Good luck Kurt. We’ll send some extra supplies with the security team to hand off to you.” the old man just nods along with what his son said. In the back Hollie shouts, “May Arceus bless you!”

Right, the almighty space deer, “Thank you.”

Hanging up I look to the rest of my team sitting nervously around me, “You guys should find a game or something to play while I'm out. Or just train in the field they got out back.”

Jane scowls, “Why can’t I come?”

“We,” Naomi pouts, “Why can’t We come?”

Even the boy looks concerned.

“So little faith?” I tease, “First, we can’t all ride my bat. Second… I’m sorry kids, but if I’m going in quietly, you’ll just slow me down. It’ll be even more dangerous then.”

The redhead stands up, “Aunt Lucy never bothers going in quietly! We can just charge in!”

I chuckle seeing both Naomi and Citro wince at that lovely idea.

Citro looks back to me, “Is there anything we can help you with. I’m sure any of our pokemon would be willing to help.”

There's a thought, “What about the carry limit?”

Naomi shows my trainer page on her tablet, “Father just removed all limits on your license for tonight.”

Let's hope the bad guys don’t keep tabs on that sort of thing.

“... alright,” I look at my teammates, “I’d like to borrow Mienfoo, Onix, Salazzle… and Glados.”

“ME?!” a voice from Citro’s backpack squeaks. Rotom appears and dances around me, “I can help!?”

Sighing, “Ya, just hop in my phone for now.”

Each of the kids holds out a ball. I’m really going in with over ten pokemon. Jane unclips her ball belt, putting her team in her bag and passing me the belt.

“Thanks guys.”

A few men and women in Wattson Security uniforms walk into the center.

Double checking, I’ve got on a good set of boots, some durable dark gray jeans. Also rocking my Kevlar lined, black pilot jacket. A few supplies in my small courier bag and both ball belts nearly full, crossed on my waist.

One of the men hands me a new set of fancy, red tinted, night goggles before turning to Naomi, “We’ll be on the grounds tonight Miss Wattson. We have a pair on the roof and lookouts on the ridge above the center.”

One last look at the kids, “Alright, I’m off.”

Naomi jumps forward and gives me a hug.

Jane folds her arms, still upset about being left behind, “Don’t mess up old man.”

“Way to jinx it,” I smirk. Turning to Citro, “Take turns keeping an ear out.” Now the rest of the security team, “I don’t doubt if any grunts get away, this may be where they turn up first before scattering about the region.”

Our red head cracks her knuckles, “Then we’ll do it your way and punch ‘em in the face!”

“That’s my girl,” I pull her into a hug.

The punk whips around after, “Dammit old man ya got something in my eye.”

“Sure,” I laugh, before turning and giving Citro a hair ruffle.

“Stay safe everyone.” With that, I walk out.

I head a bit down the hill before calling Lacy.

Her voice is firm, I texted her a bit ago, “I hate this Kurt.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. Still gotta do it though. Someone needs my help.”

“Doesn’t mean I can't complain,” she groans, “Just get back in one piece, no, with every piece. I’ll stitch you up limb by limb if I need to, just come back alive.”

“Yes dear,” I’m a lucky guy, “time to go.”

“I love you Kurt…” Her voice is absolutely shaking. “Best piece of driftwood in all of Hoenn.”

I can’t help laughing, “I’ll call you when I’m done, good night Love.”

“You better. I’ll keep the news on.”

Hanging up I breathe in the night air. The last sliver of purple sunlight is disappearing beyond my destination in the distance. The active volcano in the center of Hoenn, Mt Chimney.

I take out Shak’s new luxury ball, something Naomi and I had designed for fun. Black with steel grey fangs making the seal look like a toothy mouth.

“Alright bud, this will be our longest flight yet.”

My monster stretches his massive wingspan as he appears. I chuckle watching the nearby Wattson guards take a step back. This titan Golbat is bigger than those golf carts they ride around Mauville.

Shak’s head is almost level with mine now despite his hunched over frame.

“We’re gonna race to that mountain over there. Ready?”

He growls with a smirk and claws up the gravel a bit before leaning down to sniff at my bag.

“Nope, snacks are on the mountain bud.”

Huffing he crouches down and here’s where this awesome new ball really kicks ass. I can select to release him with or without his harness equipped!

Climbing on top, I also pull out a black bandana to mask my face and shield the wind, “Get altitude then full throttle for the smoke bud.”

I spot the girls waving from the window as Shak vaults into the air with a mighty leap, his wings spread and we make a diving glide down the hill to gain some speed before pulling up and starting to climb. Both wings pumping, making this like riding a mechanical bull, thankfully my jacket straps onto the harness. My legs tucked into the stirrups tap his sides.

“This all you got bud?!”

With a growl, our speed more than doubles.

We rocket into the cloudy night sky. A dull flash of light catches the corner of my eye as suddenly a yellow crane the size of a small plane does a barrel roll over us, under us, and then steady alongside. Plasma arcing within her neon yellow feathers creates a steady glow in the encroaching dark.

Shak screeches out a meek ‘hello.’ The lightning bird just stole our thunder a bit.

“I’ll be back in a few hours Zapra.”

Static sparks flick between her and me, a tingle sensation charges my very bones causing shivers up my spine.

Glados’ voice comes over my ear piece, “Lady Zapdos has given me the coordinates of our goal.”

Huh, “Cool, let's get higher and survey the site.”

Zapra gives me a final nod before banking away in a rolling dive back towards the cliffs overlooking the pokemon center.

Clouds whip by as we swoop around them. An Altaria lets out an indignant honk as Shak’s wing cuts into the cloud it was resting inside.

Laughing, “You know, we need to get out and do this more often buddy.”

Shak gives a cheery screech and swoops up in a loop, stalling halfway, and spinning back out into a dive to regain speed towards the fast approaching volcano.

“Show off!” I ruffle his mane a bit.

Glados once more comes in, “The site is on the north face, near the peak.”

I lean right, “Alright, ease up.”

Fast movement is more likely to draw the eye.

We coast along a thermal drifting around the mountain. Tapping the side of my goggles, the zoom feature lets me begin scanning the mountain side. Soon enough I spot a small black dirigible parked at sheer cliffside. I bet during the day this just looks like any other part of the north face.

“That makes things easy.” I can’t see anyone walking about on the small part of the clifftop that is exposed. “Come in slowly from above and land quietly on top of it.”

That should block sight from whatever entrance is on the ridge or personnel still onboard the carriage of the airship.

One advantage many bats have over most birds is the ability to hover easily. Shak swoops down and gently as you like hovers on top of the aluminum frame of the blimp long enough for me to hop off.

“Stay in the area and keep an eye out for me. If everything goes to shit, wreck this big balloon to shreds then take down anyone trying to flee. You see a dragon, take cover elsewhere on the mountain. Swoop back to check for me later and then head back to the pokemon center if I don’t turn up.”

With a nod he pumps his wings in a way to regain altitude without rocking the ship.

Crouching down I edge over enough to survey the ridgeline. My night vision doesn’t pick up any movement but I can see a cave just past the few feet of open space. The balloon of the ship is actually almost touching the cliff face as it resumes up the mountain.

Jumping is doable but guaranteed to make noise, plus I should disable this potential getaway vehicle…plus it would make for a sweet reward later… assuming my bat doesn’t send it crashing down the mountain.

Part of the frame has ladder rungs for me to climb down.

Hooking my leg on the ladder, I slowly swing upside down to peek into the window of the pilot cabin.

Nobody home, but also no entry here. I can see the interior is just one open space the size of maybe a larger house boat. A stool for the pilot, a bench table and recliner. It's an airborne motorhome!

A door inside opens, I don’t hang around to greet the fellow zipping up his pants.

Grabbing back onto the ladder, I look down the side of the aircraft to see a sliding door near the back.

There is not really a way to get to it from here though… I could use Tess’ webs… Nah. I did say I’m batman.

I hang back down real quick to tap hard on the window before pulling back up. Getting my ab workout for the night.

Listening, a second later I hear a latch click and wind breaking over an open surface.

Making sure my legs are good and wedged into the ladder rungs, I drop back down in the face of a very shocked young man in a red hoodie.

“What?”

“Hi, did you order the pizza?”

“What!?”

“Guess not.”

I grab him by the chest of the hoodie and quickly pull him with all my strength right up out of the window till he’s all but dangling beneath me, his toes just tryin to keep contact with the window seal.

“What the fuck man?!”

“So, come here often?”

“Are you fucking serious man?! Don't drop me please don't drop me!”

My arms are really burning, “Who do you work for, what is going on here?”

He’s definitely crying, can’t blame him, “Team Ember! I don’t know, I just fly this! Put me back please put me back!”

“I’m sure you could guess?”

“Science something! I’m supposed to pick up some big shot scientist tonight!”

“How do I start this thing?”

“The password is,” his feet slip from the window, the fabric rips from my grip.

----------------------